Aoyama

Chapter 459 Fake
The two returned to the campfire, and Zhang Xia sat down next to Xiao Man.

Chen Ji sat to the side, watching the flickering firelight, remaining silent.

He had previously suspected that Zhang Xia was using this opportunity to meet with Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, but now it has been proven not to be true... However, doubts still lingered in his mind.

Chen Ji sat by the campfire, picked up a piece of mutton, and casually asked Zhang Xia beside him, "Brother Zhang said earlier that you and your friend went to see the Four Dreams of Bianliang?"

Zhang Xia, while eating mutton, said, "I saw it."

Chen Ji said with a smile, "I only found out later that this poem was written by Zhang Li, the chief disciple of the Huangshan Taoist Temple. I didn't expect that this Taoist's literary talent was more outstanding than his cultivation... I remember there was a line in Li Changge's poem in the Four Dreams of Bianliang: 'Yesterday, the deer cries at the banquet; tonight, the iron chains are cold.' What was the next line again?"

Zhang Xia smiled and said, "What's the point of talking about dragon and phoenix offspring, or the hardships of commoners? When I read 'The Four Dreams of Bianliang,' I couldn't help but think of the time at Luhun Manor, when it was snowing heavily that day, and you were sitting in the Yin-Yang Fish Diagram debating scriptures with Wuzhai. You led the horse and the princess through the Narrow Gorge, and I thought that this scene should be known to the world. I never expected that Daoist Zhang Li would actually write this into his storybook."

Chen Ji absentmindedly hummed in agreement.

He looked down at the hem of his clothes.

The hem of this garment was torn during a body search by a centurion when we entered Chongli Pass, and it hasn't been sewn up yet.

He said with a smile, "Brother Zhang mentioned before that your mother kept you at home to learn needlework. How is it going?"

Zhang Xia chewed on a piece of mutton: "Easy as pie."

Chen Ji lifted the hem of his clothes: "Could you sew this for me? Otherwise, people will think I'm a beggar."

Zhang Xia smiled and beckoned to Xiaoman: "Bring me your sewing kit."

Xiaoman exclaimed "Hey!", put down the lamb leg, and stood up: "It's still in the Vermilion Bird tent, I'll go get it."

Xiaoman ran off in a flash, and when she came back, she handed the sewing kit to Zhang Xia.

Zhang Xia lowered her head, skillfully threading a needle as she casually remarked, "I used to always want to prove that I was stronger than men, so I went to the Imperial Academy to debate with others and learn divination, but I didn't want to learn needlework or read the 'Admonitions for Women.' Later, I gradually realized that it didn't matter. A woman's strength is not proven by these things; those who are self-reliant will always be strong."

Chen Ji looked at Zhang Xia's profile; a few strands of hair fell from her forehead.

Zhang Xia lifted Chen Ji's hem and re-locked the torn edge of the fabric, the stitches fine and tight, like that of an experienced tailor.

This scene was incredibly peaceful amidst the noisy military market and crowds.

At this moment, Zhang Xia lowered her head, bit off the end of the thread with her teeth, and gently tied a knot: "Done."

Chen Ji snapped out of his reverie and examined the fine stitches closely. Zhang Xia had disappeared for quite some time because she was learning needlework, and he had previously suspected that learning needlework was just an excuse, but now he had no choice but to believe it.

"Thank you," Chen Ji said casually. "By the way, the other day when the Empress held a ceremony to worship the Silkworm Goddess, all the noble ladies from the capital came. Why didn't I see you?"

Zhang Xia said with a smile, "Worshiping the Silkworm Goddess is not an interesting thing. It's just a competition among women to see who can be the best. I don't like going, and I've never been."

Chen Ji suddenly changed the subject: "Where did you learn about the Five Witches Army?"

Zhang Xia sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, picked up a piece of mutton from Xiao Man's tray and stuffed it into her mouth: "My uncle Xu Shu once mentioned that he had dealt with the Five Wraiths Army in the Forty-Nine Heavens. This group of people is very strange. They were banished to the Five Turbid World and are neither dead nor indestructible. They are willful and reckless."

Zhang Xia continued, "Actually, the Five Wrathful Army was also divided into two groups. One part was recruited by the Dao Court and settled in Beiju Luzhou... which is the Thunder Department of the Dao Court."

Chen Ji's heart skipped a beat. Beiju Luzhou?

Zhang Xia's understanding of the Five Witches' army far surpasses his, even exceeding that of Ping Zhao and Aunt Ping; it might not even be recorded in the twelve volumes of general outline copied by Shi Gou.

Watertight.

Chen Ji has asked around but hasn't found any flaws in Zhang Xia's story.

But he wasn't giving up: "That little black cat you gave Xiaoman before..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Xia explained with a smile, "Actually, when Father returned home, he mentioned that the black cat the Empress was holding looked exactly like Wuyun, and he didn't know how it got into the palace. I was afraid that someone would become suspicious, so I went and bought a similar one to send to Xiaoman."

Chen Ji sighed inwardly, realizing that all his suspicions had been answered. As for why Zhang Xia lied about Xiaoman coming to Chongli Pass, and why he used the excuse that Zhang Zhuo was delivering a black cat... these could also be explained by reason.

Chen Ji didn't intend to ask any more questions, but Zhang Xia changed the subject and asked softly, "So, none of these questions are what you really want to ask. What is it that you really want to ask?"

The traces of the past remain silent.

The question he really wanted to ask at that moment was... Are you the White Dragon?
Before he could speak, the military market suddenly became quieter.

It was as if a cold wind was blowing from the south, instantly turning the spring night into a cold winter. The cold wind moved from south to north, freezing everyone in place.

Merchants and soldiers alike rose to their feet and silently looked south.

Chen Ji and Zhang Xia also got up to look, and saw a cavalry coming from the south, slow but with an imposing presence.

The leader wore that familiar white dragon-patterned mask. Chen Ji glanced at the white dragon, then at Zhang Xia beside him.

It turns out I was wrong.

In the flickering firelight, Bailong rode slowly along, followed by Baohou and Xuanshe, and behind them were more than ten gyrfalcons embroidered with pythons over their shoulders, as well as dozens of spies.

Loud.

In the military city, everyone stood silently on both sides of the dirt road, not daring to say a word.

Bai Long glanced down at the crowd, looking at the soldiers and merchants who were now silent with fear: "I never expected that this remote place, Chongli Pass, would be so lively. Please continue, everyone, and don't let me spoil your enjoyment."

He turned his horse toward Chongli Pass, but the soldiers there showed no intention of removing the barricades.

The next moment, two gyrfalcons galloped out from both flanks, drew their sabers, and came to the chevaux-de-frise. With a swift movement, they cleaved the chevaux-de-frise into pieces, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

Some of the city's guards tried to stop them, but Xuan She stepped forward, holding the royal command flag, and shouted, "Step back!"

Bai Long walked through the middle without looking to the side, followed closely by a group of spies. The cavalry slowly disappeared into the shadows of the city gate, leaving only the sound of hooves echoing in the night.

The merchants and soldiers in the military market looked like wilted eggplants, their previous high spirits now replaced by listlessness.

Zhang Baishi lifted the curtain and bent down to crawl out of the tent, spitting out, "Eunuchs, what are they! We've been working hard to defend Chongli Pass, and what are they doing here showing off?"

Hong Zu'er waved to Asheng: "Go find Li Sanlang. I bought all the sheep he brought this time. Each soldier who is off duty today will receive two taels."

Ah Sheng quickly got up and patted the dirt off her bottom: "Okay."

Hong Zu'er thought for a moment, then tossed a string of Buddhist coins to the shopkeeper from a distance: "I've bought the wine too, let them drink as they please."

The shopkeeper beamed as he held the Buddhist coin in his hands: "I understand Master Hong's rules!"

Ah Sheng shouted at the top of his lungs, "Today, Master Hong is treating everyone to drinks and meat, let's drink until we're completely drunk!"

Xiaoman said with heartache, "How much money will this cost? Will we be able to make ends meet?"

Ah Sheng explained with a smile, "This is Master Hong's rule. Before leaving Chongli Pass each time, you have to spend all your money. Night owls can't have any worries, otherwise they won't be able to come back."

Chen Ji turned to look at Hong Zu'er, who had treated the entire military city to drinks but hadn't touched a drop himself.

At this moment, Zhang Xia smiled and said to him, "Were you just trying to ask me if I am Bai Long?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "I'm sorry."

Zhang Xia shook her head: "No need to apologize, but why did you guess it was me?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment: "Back in Guyuan, Mr. Feng hoped that I would recruit you into the Secret Service and even gave me a bag of oranges, but I declined on your behalf."

Zhang Xia asked curiously, "Why?"

Chen Ji said seriously, "It's too dangerous. I'm already in it, and I don't want you to end up like me, having to think about how to deal with people every day and living a life of constant danger."

Zhang Xia smiled, picked up a jar of wine from beside the campfire, took a sip, and frowned from the spiciness.

She exhaled a breath of alcohol: "But that doesn't mean I've joined the Secret Service."

Chen Ji calmly said, "I refused the oranges he offered, but after leaving, I felt something was off. When I returned, I found the place deserted, but Mr. Feng had left the bag of oranges inside, as if mocking me. I know Mr. Feng; he never gives up until he achieves his goal, so I had my worries."

Zhang Xia looked at the campfire and exhaled a breath of alcohol: "But the White Dragon is the first of the twelve zodiac animals. How can the Inner Minister feel at ease letting a woman at the Innate Realm sit in this top seat?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "That's true. But even if you're not Bai Long, I'm worried you might have secretly joined the Secret Service. Be sure to stay away from the Secret Service; it's a breeding ground for treacherous creatures."

Zhang Xia said meaningfully, "So you were following me just now, suspecting that I might be a top-level spy or a gyrfalcon, and wanted to see if I was going to make contact with someone from the Secret Service?"

Chen Ji hummed in agreement.

Zhang Xia asked more meaningfully, "Why should I join the Secret Service?"

"Because you want to..." Chen Ji choked halfway through his sentence.

Zhang Xia took another swig of wine: "Because I'm going to help you rescue the princess, right? Don't worry, the Secret Service is a den of dragons and tigers. My father and uncle both warned me not to get involved with those people. I won't put myself in danger because of others."

Chen Ji breathed a long sigh of relief: "That's good."

Zhang Xia threw down the wine jar, got up and walked towards the Vermilion Bird tent: "It's getting late, let's rest. We'll set off for Baidadan tomorrow morning."

(End of this chapter)